ZOE AND ROBOT

A precocious girl teaches her robot friend the art of imagination. Cheerful Zoe, accessorized with a bubblegum-pink cat-eared cap, is determined to teach her friend Robot the art of playing pretend. Amassing a “mountain” of pillows, she suggests they “climb” to the top of the peak, though for literal Robot, this causes great difficulties; all he can see is a tottering pile of cushions. Through Zoe’s sheer persistence and ingenuity, she carefully guides the robot into the world of imagination, and the pair spends a satisfying afternoon mountaineering indoors. Bright colors and oversize panels make this early reader graphic tale particularly attractive to younger readers. Fans of the TOON books (Stinky, by Eleanor Davis; Otto’s Orange Day, by Jay Lynch and Frank Cammuso, both 2008, etc.), should find this quirky buddy story equally appealing. Simultaneously releasing is the sweet—though only a shade less charming—Doggie Dreams, by Mike Herrod, which features a young boy and his pup, reminiscent of Sherman and Mister Peabody. Jake, the somnolent title canine, takes readers through his not-so-wild dreams: of eating people food, playing in a rock-and-roll band and being a brave knight and saving a damsel (er...dogsel?) in distress. As the two books share a similar page layout and palette, readers should be able to easily transition from one tale to the next. Darling. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)